Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1887-11-09
Aid. -
I..... " 9.0C
c.. .... 1900

As..--- l.,tjJ
There were four or FIVE sets OF vi -s
memoranda, running from one to Gid"
When asked TO explau the meaning OF
them, he said they were some old examples
in algebra he had bean working out with
the boys. In a few minutes we were
satisfied that tho paper read: ARTILLERY
in first division" The "ID stood for in
fantry, and the &C" for cavalry. We
were satisfied, and yet we We're not, for as
soon as ye made it out the way l have
given it TO you, Swift said:
General, Captain Morton does not seem
70 be a good hand to remember faces.
VIII you please send for the orderly SER
geant and my tent mates? If l can't
show by them that l have been with Com
pany for four months you can order me
hung as spy"
The cool proposition staggered the Cen
erel. Had we discovered the paper in the
mans pocket instead of his boots he would
have been allowed TO walk Off. That dis
covery looked suspicious, and he was
ordered back to the guard house and the
persons sent for. Two hours later he was
confronted with the orderly sergeant.
Sergeant, do you know this mani"
asked the General.
''No. SIR"
isn't he a member of your company:N
''No, sr."
"You aco dead sure OF this?"
81 am, sir"
Swift actually grinned as if it were
good joke, and said:
perhaps / have changed skins with
somebody since | came out of camp this
morning. Sergeant White, your given
name is Thomas. You came from Chicago.
You have been twice wounded. Your
father was down 10 see you last week
You get love letters from your girl in
Galesburg. You are thirty-two years old.
You have a brother Ben in Company E.
Hear me call the roll of our company: ALI
bright Allison, Andrews, Arzwright, Be-
ment, Bcamer, Bostwick, Carter, Corliss,
Collins, Costigan, Cummerford-"
And the man ratified off forty or City
names as fast as he could speak, and he got
them al correct, too. The Sergeant looked
form his Captain TO the prisoner, and then
pinched himself to see if he was awake or
asleep.
IL never saw him BEFORE" he finally
stammered, but lie must belong to the
company"
"Yes, he certainly must,'' added the
Captain.
"We'I, take him lack to camp with you,
sergeant" observed the General "Hold
Z t-Af tAsSt. 5t-s 1911 We SSLu IOE us tent
mateA:"
''Ihey arc bore. SIR"
"Weii, Wei see Il they recognize him."
The three men were brought in, and IN
side of GSe inmates Swift was doomed
man. lfe bad come into camp four or five
days previous, claiming to be looking for
q friend, and had bribed the boys 20 let
him into the tens. II made his excursions
through the division from this point. He
must ~ ave been a mau with a wonderful
memory. and be rad gained oceans OF in
formation without seeming 10 pump any
body. he tried 70 brave il out against the
three men. bat other members OF the CON-
pany were sent for, and his nerve at last
gave way. 4 court martial was convened.
and four days after his capture Swift was
hung. While he died game and woald adj
NIT nothing, it was satisfactorily settled
that Ie came from Johnson's army, and
that he was old in the business. l was at
the foot OF the gallows as he mounted it.
and when the moose was put over his head
heard him say:
''eseniiernen, it's a fine morning 70 start
such journey as rlinsi"